Electrical wiring protector



- June 2, 1970- L. J. .HOCHSTETLER ELECTRICAL WIRING PROTECTOR Filed my 10. 1968 [NV/.iA/J'UR. 167/ d HOCHSTETLER BY Z I A 7'7'OR/VE Y Uniedfimes Pam- 3,515,797 ELECTRICAL WIRING PROTECTOR Levi J. H'ochstetler, 207 S. 23rd St.,

Goshen, Ind. 46526 Filed July 10, 1968, SenNo. 743,653 7 Int. .Cl. H02g 3/26 I U.S. Cl. 174135 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wiring protector mountable within a tranverse slot in a frame support comprising a U-shaped member having a rear flange, a shorter front flange spaced from said rear flange, and an integral web interconnecting the lower margins of said flanges. At least a portion of the upper edge of the rear flange of the protector is inclined. The distance between the web and the uppermost edge part of the rear flange of the protector is greater than the spacing between opposed sides of the frame support slot so that the protector may be wedged lengthwise into said frame support slot with its rear flange positioned adjacent the back of the slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION have been devised to form a protective shield about'the electrical wiring or other type conduits which traverse the studs or similar frame'supports in the structures. This type of protection is desirable to prevent penetration and shorting of 'thefwiring when nails or'screws are anchored in the frame supportsto attach siding or cabinets thereto.

It is common practice to utilize U-shaped protectors which are positioned in shallow transverse slots or notches in the studs to support and protect the wiring. Heretofore, one method of securing these U-shaped protectors to the studs consists of forming aligned holes in the upper margins of the laterally spaced flanges of each protector and insertin g a nail or other securing means through the aligned holes and anchoring it in the stud. In using this type of securement'means, the wiring must be inserted lengthwise through the lsecured protector in a time-conshming manner. Another means heretofore used to secure the U-shaped protectorto the studs consists of having an apertured laterally directed tab formedv along a bottom edge of each protector; A nail or other securing means is inserted through the tab and anchored in the side of the stud. This latter type .of protector securement means permits sidewise insertion of the wiring into the protector, but when multiple strandsof wiring are carried therein, there is a tendency for the. protector to pivot within the stud slot. This pivotal movement of the protector relative to the stud makes insertion of the wiring difficult and, in mobile homes, can cause deforming of the overlying siding of the mobile home due to vibratory contact between the protector and siding during road travel.

Another means heretofore used to secure electrical wiring to the frame support of a building or home structure involves the use of a recessed plate which spans a notch formed in a stud and which is secured thereto by nails or other means. This means of wiring securement does not protect the wiring from penetration by nails or screws 3,515,797 Patented June 2, 1970 driven or turned into the stud from a side opposite the recessed plat nor does the use of the recessed plate facilitate laying of the wiring since either the plate is first attached to the stud and then the wiring is time-consumingly inserted through the notch or the wiring is first laid in the notch and then the plate is inserted thereover with obvious difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved U-shaped wiring protector which is adapted for fixed mounting in a transverse slot in a building or home frame support and which includes a rear flange, a shorter front flange laterally spaced from said rear flange, and an integral web interconnecting the lower margins of said flanges. At least a portion of the upper edge of the rear flange is inclined. The distance between the web and uppermost edge part of the rear flange of said protector is greater than the spacing between opposed sides of the frame support slot so that the protector may be inserted lengthwise into said frame support slot and wedged therein with its rear flange positioned adjacent the back of said slot. The protector also preferably includes a wedge part which projects below its web.

The wire protector of this invention is forcibly inserted lengthwise into the frame support slot by means of a hammer or similar device which causes the wedging and selflocking of the protector in the slot without the need of nails or other separate securing means. The shorter front flange of the installed protector has its upper edge spaced from the upper side of the frame support slot so as to permit sidewise insertion of the wiring into the protector; The front flange may be inwardly bent to enclose the inserted wiring.

Accordingly, it is a purpose of this invention to provide ical construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wiring protector which may be secured to a building or home frame support in a rapid manner.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a wiring protector which, when mounted to a stud in a building or home structure, permits the rapid insertion of wiring therein.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the inventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a structural side Wall with parts in section showing one construction of the wiring protector of this invention mounted to a stud and closed about a traversing electrical wire.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wiring protector 1 of FIG. 1 shown in uninstalled form and with a part in section.

. FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the wiring protector shown in FIG. 2.

, FIG. 4 is an end view of the wiring protector shown A in FIG. 2 as-viewed from the right.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE, PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and their application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one construction of this invention. The fragmentary home or building side wall shown perspectively in FIG. 1 includes a wooden stud or frame support having a shallow transverse slot or notch 12 which is formed in a side 14 thereof and which is defined by top and bottom side walls 16 and end wall 18. A wiring protector 20 is mounted within slot 12 and cradles an electrical wire or cable 22 which traverses the protector 20 and the frame support 10. Sheet metal or similar paneling 24 is secured by screws 25 or similar means to side 14 of frame support 10 and covers slot 12. Wall board 26 may be attached to the opposite side of support member 10 by screws, nails or similar means anchored in the support member.

Protector 20 is a bracket member, preferably formed from sheet metal, having a U-shaped cross sectional configuration and including a rear leg or flange 28, a front leg or flange 30 laterally spaced from said rear flange, and an integral web 32 interconnecting the lower margins of the flanges 28 and 30. Upper edge 36 of rear flange 28 is inclined lengthwise of protector 20 beginning at side edge 21 of the protector and slanting upwardly at an an angle preferably less than 45 to opposite side edge 23 of the protector. Upper edge 34 of front flange 30 preferably terminates below the lowermost edge part 41 of rear flange 28. The distance between the lowermost edge part 41 of rear flange 28 and edge 34 of front flange 30 is preferably greater than the thickness of wire 22.

A V-shaped tab or wedge part 38 preferably projects below web 32. Wedge part 38 is preferably struck from web 32 at the bend between the web and rear flange 28 adjacent protector side edge 23 and lies in substantially the same plane as rear flange 28. One defining edge 40 of wedge part 38 forms an extension with protector side edge 23 and the other defining edge 42 of wedge part 38 slants from edge 40 to web 32 as best shown in FIG. 3. The distance between web 32 and lowermost edge part 41 of rear flange 28 is preferably only slightly less than the spacing between opposed side walls 16 of slot 12 in frame support 10, and the distance between web 32 and the uppermost edge part 51 of flange 28 is greater than the spacing between side walls 16 of slot 12. The width of web 32 is preferably not greater than the distance between end wall 18 of slot 12 and side 14 of frame support 10.

To mount protector 20 within slot 12 of the frame support 10, side edge 21 of the protector is first inserted into slot 12 from side of the support. The protector is then driven lengthwise into the slot with rear flange 28 positioned adjacent back wall 18 of the slot by means of a hammer or similar device causing upper edge 36 of the rear flange 28 and wedge part 38 of protector to penetrate the softer frame support 10 and firmly wedge the protector within the slot. After the wiring is mounted in but may be'modified within the scope of the appended fl ge. p r .28 as a upp e .5 mp is n a lower edge portion 52 and a parallel upper edge portion 54 joined by an inclined coplanar edge portion 56. The distance between lower edge portion 52 of rear flange 28 and web 32 of the modified protector is preferably only slightly less than the spacing between-opposed side walls 16 of the slot 12 in frame support 10, and the distance between upper edge portion 54 of rear flange 28 and web 32 is greater than the spacing between side walls 16 of slot 12. Wedge part 38 is struck from web 32 intermediate the length thereof with defining edge 42 of the wedge part preferably slanting from web 32 divergently opposite and at the same angle as edge portion 56 of rear flange 28. The modified protector is mounted within slot 16 of frame support 10 in the same manner as that described for protector 20. t

It will be understood that the invention heretofore described is not to be limited to the details herein given claims. What I claim is: 1. An electrical wiring protector for mounting Within a transverse slot in a building or home frame support upper edge of which at least a portion thereof is inclined, the distance between the uppermost inclined part of said rear flange upper edge and said web being greater than the spacing between opposed side walls of said frame support slot so that said wiring protector can be inserted lengthwise into said frame support slot and firmly wedged therein.

the protector, front flange 30 may be bent inwardly, as

2. The wiring protector of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of said front flange terminates below the lowermost inclined part of said rear flange upper edge.

3. The wiring protector of claim 2, and an integral wedge part projecting below said web.

4. The wiring protector of claim 3, wherein said wedge part is substantially coplanar with said rear flange.

5. The wiring protector of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of said rear flange includes lower and upper edge portions joined by an inclined edge portion. 1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,281,005 10/ 1966 Schumacher 174--48 3,297,815 1/1967 Drettman 174-48 3,240,869 3/1966 Jureit 174-48 3,211,825 10/196'5 Clos 17448 3,211,824- 10/1965 Heirnan 17448 3,350,501 10/1967 Jureit 174-48 X 1,968,596 7/1934 Benander 174-48 X FOREIGN PATENTS 43 7,457 11/ 1967 Switzerland. 1,239,623 7/ 1960 France.

US. 01. X.R. 174-48 

